Envelope with inserted coupon



Aug, 12, 1969 R. c. BURNETT 3,460,743

7 ENVELOPE WITH INSERTE!) COUPON Filed Sept. 22, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MOM/[75' Aug. 12,1969 R. c. BURNETT 3,460,743

ENVELOPE WITH TNSERTED COUPON Filed Sept. 22. 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet z United States Patent Int. Cl. B65d 27/00 US. Cl. 229-70 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An envelope made from folded sheet material has a front panel, a rear panel overlying the front panel and cooperating therewith to at least partially define a pocket and an integrally formed sealing flap providing a closure for the pocket. A coupon positioned in the pocket extends therefrom and is held in an extended position therein by a quantity of adhesive adhering to a portion of the coupon surface and to an adjacent portion of the envelope inner surface. In its dry state the adhesive has a shear strength substantially less than that of the materials from which the envelope and the coupon are made or has a relatively weak bond to at least one of said materials so that the coupon may be pulled out of the envelope without substantial damage to either of the latter materials.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of the copending application of Burnett, Bushey and Ruggeri, entitled Stuffed, Sealed Envelopes and Method of Making Same, filed June 17, 1966, Ser. No. 558,478.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates in general to envelopes and deals more particularly with envelopes of the so-called stuffed type which carry inserts or coupons such as often used in games directed to the promotion and advertisement of consumer goods. For example, game coupons for use in playing in bingo type game or in another type of game in which one coupon comprises a part of a unit to be matched with another part of parts to form a complete unit may be distributed in this manner. Preferably an envelope for this purpose is distributed in a sealed condition and has good opacity or noncoupon reading quality so that indicia on a coupon contained therein may not be readily ascertained by holding the envelope to a light source. It is also generally desirable that the coupon be maintained in position within the envelope so as to be immediately visible when the envelope is opened. As a convenient example in the specific disclosure that follows the invention is illustrated with reference to a sealed stuffed envelope particularly suited to the distribution game coupons although not necessarily limited to this usage.

Envelopes of the aforedescribed type are also particularly useful in the advertisement and promotion of mail order merchandise and service. Such an envelope is normally distributed in unsealed condition with an insert or coupon therein. The coupon may comprise an order form or may be printed with mailing instructions or advertising material when the requirements for such printed material exceed the space available on the envelope. The envelope may also serve as a convenient mailing container as for small articles such as stamps, photographic film cartridges and the like and by way of further example the invention is also hereinafter illustrated with reference to a stuffed envelope of the latter type.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, an envelope is provided having an insert or coupon secured therein by adhesive and extending from the pocket thereof. The position of the insert is such that it is readily visible when distributed with an unsealed envelope having its sealing flap in an open condition. When the insert is distributed in a sealed envelope its position relative to the envelope is such that it extends above the envelope pocket so as to be immediately visible when the envelope is opened. The insert is secured to the envelope in such a manner as to be readily separable therefrom without risk of damage to either the envelope or the insert. The adhesive used to secure the insert to the envelope blank is one whose tackiness decreases with age. When the envelope is made the tackiness of the adhesive holds the insert in place during the folding of the envelope blank but thereafter it allows the insert to be removed with little or no damage to the insert as by fiber tearing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank from which an envelope is formed, an associated coupon being shown attached to the blank in a predetermined position.

FIG. 2 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 but shows the blank folded to form the envelope pocket.

FIG. 3 is a plan view similar to FIG. 9. but shows the blank completely folded and sealed to form a folded, stuffed sealed envelope in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the envelope of FIG. 3 after it has been opened.

FIG. 5 is a plan view similar to FIG. 4 and shows the coupon being removed from the envelope.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of another envelope blank, an associated coupon being shown attached to the blank in a predetermined position, the coupon further being shown in a partially unfolded position.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the blank and coupon of FIG. 6, the blank being shown in partially folded condition.

FIG. 8 is generally similar to FIG. 7 but shows the side panels and bottom panel folded into such positions as to form a completed envelope.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, and first considering the embodiment of FIG. 1 to 5, FIG. 1 shows a sheet of insert material 20 placed in face to face relation with a central section of the envelope blank 22. Both the sheet of insert material 20, hereinafter referred to as the insert, and the envelope blank 22, are of a material suitable for use in existing printing processes and machinery. The envelope blank 22 may be printed on the outside with advertising material if desired, and on the inside with a tinting or design to prevent the insert from showing through the envelope. The insert 20 may be printed with any desired message.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the insert 20 is temporarily affixed to the envelope blank 22 by means of a special adhesive, at areas 24 and 26, which initially is tacky when wet, but upon drying, or aging, becomes very low in shear strength to allow the insert to be pulled, in a direction generally parallel to the plane of the envelope. An example of a suitable adhesive having the desired properties comprises the following.

Percent (1) Water 36.10 (2) Dextrin (Nadex 771, a product of National Starch and Chemical Corporation) 58.90

(3) Wax (Drawax 930, a product of Colloids,

The above percentages are by weight.

The blank 22 is preferably chevron-shaped, so that the folded envelop will have a V-shaped closing fiap, and in general, the overall appearance of a regular style envelope. The middle panel 28 is bordered on two opposite sides by the flaps 30 and 32. Fold lines 34 and 36 define the flaps 30 and 32 respectively from the central panel 28. Strips of regular gum or adhesive 38 and 40 are provided along the ends of panel 28 for connecting flap 32 with panel 28 to form a pocket, as shown best in FIG. 2.

Flap 32 is provided with a weakened line 42 extending generally parallel to the edge 44 of the flap. The Weakened line 42, preferably a line of perforations, is positioned such that, when the sealing flap 30 is closed, the strip of adhesive 46 will fall between the edge 44 and the weakened line 42. Thus, after the stuffed, sealed envelope has been completely closed and sealed, as shown in FIG. 3, the enevelope 22 can be easily opened by pulling up on the flap 30 at the center point, which causes the flap 32 to separate generally along the weakened line 42. Thus the stuffed, sealed envelope is easily opened without the use of opening devices, or tearing the envelope in two, as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. illustrates the insert 20 being removed from the pocket of the envelope after the adhesive areas 24 and 26 have aged a sufiicient time to allow the adhesive to release.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 to 9, the present invention is shown by these figures as embodied in a stuffed envelope or mailing container indicated generally at 46 in FIG. 8. The envelope 46 is particularly suited for use as a mailing container for small articles and includes an insert 50, which may for example be an order form.

The envelope 46 is made from a blank 52, as shown in FIG. 6, and includes a generally rectangular front panel 54 defined by fold lines 56, 58, 60 and 62. A generally trapezoidally shaped sealing or closing flap 64 and a generally similarly shaped bottom flap 66 are respectively connected to the front panel "54 along the fold lines 56 and 58. The blank 52 also includes a set of generally trapezoidally shaped side panels 68 and 70 respectively connected to the front panel 54 along the fold lines 60 and 62 by generally rectangular accordion pleated connected panels 72, 72. Strips of adhesive 74 and 76 are provided along the marginal edges of the sealing flap 64 and the bottom flap 66. One of the side panels also has a strip of adhesive 78 along its free marginal edge. The insert 50 is generally rectangular and is or may be divided into two or more parts by one or more lines of perforations such as indicated at 80. To provide space for printed messages, order blanks or the like, the insert 48 is substantially wider than the envelope front panel 54 and is folded to the position generally shown in FIG. 1. Adhesive applied to areas 82 and 84 between a surface of the insert 50 and associated surface portions of the front panel 54 serve to temporarily secure the insert to the blank 52 so that the insert extends beyond the fold line 56. Preferably adhesive is applied to the areas 82 and 84 when the other adhesive lines are applied to the envelope blank 52 and before the various parts of the blank are folded into assembly.

To complete the envelope the side panels 68 and 70 are folded into generally overlying relationship with the front panel 54 and the insert 50, the accordian pleated connecting panels being folded inwardly or toward the center of the front panel as best shown in FIG. 9. The width of each side panel 68 and 70 is such that at least one side panel partially overlaps the other when the two panels are folded into the aforedescribed position. The adhesive line 78 serves to join the two side panels 68 and 70 which cooperate to form the rear panel of the envelope 46. Thereafter, the bottom panel 66 is folded along the fold line 58 and into overlying relationship with the side panels 68 and 70 and secured thereto by the adhesive line 76.

The envelope 46 is preferably distributed in an unsealed condition with its sealing flap open and with the insert 50 extending from the mouth thereof defined by the fold line 56 and the upper or free edge of the envelope rear panel indicated at 86. To attract attention a striking message (not shown) is, or may be, printed on the portion of the coupon which extends from the envelope. The adhesive in the areas 82 and 84 has sufiicient strength to temporarily, and until the insert is to be used, maintain the insert in its aforedescribed position, however, the shear strength of this adhesive, or its bond to either the envelope blank or insert, is such that the insert may be readily pulled from the envelope without substantially damaging the envelope, the insert or the printed message thereon. This result may be accomplished by using an adadhesive, such as described above in connection with the envelope of FIGS. 1 to 5, which decreases in tackiness with age.

The drawings show preferred embodiments of the invention and such embodiments have been described, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction disclosed and that the drawings and description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

I claim:

1. An article of manufacture comprising an enevelope made of folded sheet material and having a front panel and a rear panel overlying said front panel and cooperating therewith to at least partially define a pocket, said envelope including a sealing flap integrally connected to one of said panels along a fold line and foldable therealong to a closed position overlying an associated portion of the other of said panels to form a closure for the mouth of said pocket, an insert positioned in said pocket with a portion extending from the mouth thereof and having a surface adjacent an associated portion of the inner surface of one of said panels, and an adhesive means including a quantity of adhesive between said latter two surfaces for temporarily holding said insert in the aforesaid position, said adhesive means being such as to permit said insert to be pulled out of said pocket without substantial damage to either said insert or said envelope.

2. An article of manufacture as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said mouth being defined by said fold line and a free edge portion of said other panel.

3. An article of manufacture as set forth in claim 2 further characterized by said extending portion of said insert being disposed above said free edge and below said flow line.

4. An article of manufacture as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said envelope being made from a single blank of folded sheet material.

5. An article of manufacture as set forth in claim 4 further characterized by said blank being generally chevron shaped.

6. An article of manufacture as set forth in claim 2 further characterized by said blank including side panels connected to each side of the front panel and folded into general overlying relation therewith, said side panels being of such size as to at least partially overlap one another when folded to the latter position, a quantity of adhesive on the free edge portion of one of said side panels for sealing it to the other of the said side panels, said side panels cooperating to form said envelope rear panel.

7. An article of manufacture as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said adhesive means comprising a quantity of adhesive between said latter two surfaces which adhesive has a tackiness which decreases with age.

8. An article of manufacture comprising (a) a first sheet of imperforate paper on the like having two parallel side edges,

a pair of parallel fold lines extending perpendicular to said side edges defining a central panel between said fold lines and two end flaps of a combined size sulficient to overlay when folded along said fold lines to form a back panel,

said sheet having information printed on one side,

(b) a second, message carrying sheet smaller than said central panel of said first sheet, and temporarily afiixed thereto in face-to-face relation by an adhesive which decreases in tackiness with ageing,

(c) said second sheet occupying a position over said References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 913,473 2/1909 Draemel 22968 1,336,646 4/1920 Mendenhall 229-85 2,410,858 11/1946 Auger 22992.8 2,804,395 8/1957 Boyajian 229-68 3,278,109 10/1966 Salway 229-66 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

@23 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,460 743 Dated August 12 1969 Inventor s) ROBERT C RNETT It is certified that error appears in th e aboveidentified "patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 9, "on" should be --or--@ Claim 3, Column 4, line 62, "flow" should be --f o1d- SIGfiE-D Min SEALED JAN 2 01970 SEAL) Attest:

M. Fletcher, If. E. m Attesting Officer Oomissioner of Paton 

